Shallow slope failures in clays as a result of decreased evapotranspiration subsequent to forest clearing

Abstract

In the Kaministiquia River valley near Thunder Bay, Ontario, shallow ground movements are common on the grassy slopes, whereas the forested slopes generally appear stable. These slope failures may be the result of a rise in the groundwater table due to forest clearing and a subsequent reduction in evapotranspiration. Slope movements on one of the grassy slope in the valley have been monitored and examined since 1989. An explanation as to the cause of these slope failures is presented in this paper.Key words: shallow ground movements, fractured clay, deforestation, evapotranspiration.